The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared the Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom in Imam Sahib, Shopian, an unlawful entity under Section 8(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This decision, issued by Kashmir divisional commissioner Anshul Garg on April 24, allows authorities to seal the seminary and freeze its assets, marking a significant escalation in state actions against educational institutions. The government alleges that the seminary has maintained covert links with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and has fostered an environment conducive to radicalization, particularly citing the former student involved in the 2019 Pulwama attack. The seminary, which serves 814 students and employs 102 faculty members, is known for its dual curriculum of modern science and traditional religious studies. Critics, including political leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have condemned the move as an act of injustice and harassment against a vital educational institution. The closure is viewed as a significant blow to the region's educational infrastructure, given the seminary's history of producing professionals in various fields.